Search results for "isäntä"

Divergent parasite infections in sympatric cichlid species in Lake Victoria

2018

Parasitism has been proposed as a factor in host speciation, as an agent affecting coexistence of host species in species-rich communities and as a driver of post-speciation diversification. Young adaptive radiations of closely related host species of varying ecological and genomic differentiation provide interesting opportunities to explore interactions between patterns of parasitism, divergence and coexistence of sympatric host species. Here, we explored patterns in ectoparasitism in a community of 16 fully sympatric cichlid species at Makobe Island in Lake Victoria, a model system of vertebrate adaptive radiation. We asked whether host niche, host abundance or host genetic differentiatio…

Borrelia afzeliialters reproductive success in a rodent host

2018

The impact of a pathogen on the fitness and behaviour of its natural host depends upon the host–parasite relationship in a given set of environmental conditions. Here, we experimentally investigated the effects ofBorrelia afzelii,one of the aetiological agents of Lyme disease in humans, on the fitness of its natural rodent host, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), in semi-natural conditions with two contrasting host population densities. Our results show thatB. afzeliican modify the reproductive success and spacing behaviour of its rodent host, whereas host survival was not affected. Infection impaired the breeding probability of large bank voles. Reproduction was hastened in infected females…

Infection, specificity and host manipulation of Australapatemon sp. (Trematoda, Strigeidae) in two sympatric species of leeches (Hirudinea)

2017

SUMMARYFactors that drive parasite specificity and differences in infection dynamics among alternative host species are important for ecology and evolution of host–parasite interactions, but still often poorly known in natural systems. Here, we investigated spatiotemporal dynamics of infection, host susceptibility and parasite-induced changes in host phenotype in a rarely explored host–parasite system, theAustralapatemonsp. trematode infecting two sympatric species of freshwater leeches,Erpobdella octoculataandHelobdella stagnalis. We show significant variation in infection abundance between the host species in both space and time. Using experimental infections, we also show that most of th…

The roles of foraging environment, host species, and host diet for a generalist pupal parasitoid

2018

Genotypic and phenotypic variation in transmission traits of a complex life cycle parasite

2013

Characterizing genetic variation in parasite transmission traits and its contribution to parasite vigor is essential for understanding the evolution of parasite life‐history traits. We measured genetic variation in output, activity, survival, and infection success of clonal transmission stages (cercaria larvae) of a complex life cycle parasite (Diplostomum pseudospathaceum). We further tested if variation in host nutritional stage had an effect on these traits by keeping hosts on limited or ad libitum diet. The traits we measured were highly variable among parasite genotypes indicating significant genetic variation in these life‐history traits. Traits were also phenotypically variable, for …

Morphological traits predict host-tree specialization in wood-inhabiting fungal communities

2020

Tree species is one of the most important determinants of wood-inhabiting fungal community composition, yet its relationship with fungal reproductive and dispersal traits remains poorly understood. We studied fungal communities (total of 657 species) inhabiting broadleaved and coniferous dead wood (total of 192 logs) in 12 semi-natural boreal forests. We utilized a trait-based hierarchical joint species distribution model to examine how the relationship between dead wood quality and species occurrence correlates with reproductive and dispersal morphological traits. Broadleaved trees had higher species richness than conifers, due to discomycetoids and pyrenomycetoids specializing in them. Re…

Negative associations between parasite avoidance, resistance and tolerance predict host health in salmonid fish populations

2020

Genetic variation in defence against parasite infections is fundamental for host–parasite evolution. The overall level of defence of a host individual or population includes mechanisms that reduce parasite exposure (avoidance), establishment (resistance) or pathogenicity (tolerance). However, how these traits operate and evolve in concert is not well understood. Here, we investigated genetic variation in and associations between avoidance, resistance and tolerance in a natural host–parasite system. Replicated populations of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) and sea trout (an anadromous form of brown trout, Salmo trutta ) were raised under common garden conditions and infected with the eye fl…

Parasite transmission in aquatic ecosystems under temperature change: effects of host activity and elimination of parasite larvae by filter‐feeders

2020

A moderate raise in temperature was suggested to enhance the impact of parasites on aquatic ecosystems. Under higher temperatures, poikilothermic animals (e.g. fish) increase their activity, which can result in a more frequent encounter with parasites. However, temperature increase may also trigger processes counteracting an increased risk of parasitic infections. Thus, the removal of free‐living stages of parasites by filter‐feeding organisms can increase with temperature and potentially mitigate disease risk in ecosystems under climate change. We aimed to study whether an increased infection transmission under higher temperatures can be compensated by the increased removal of parasitic la…

Competition between strains of Borrelia afzelii inside the rodent host and the tick vector

2018

Multiple-strain pathogens often establish mixed infections inside the host that result in competition between strains. In vector-borne pathogens, the competitive ability of strains must be measured in both the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector to understand the outcome of competition. Such studies could reveal the existence of trade-offs in competitive ability between different host types. We used the tick-borne bacteriumBorrelia afzeliito test for competition between strains in the rodent host and the tick vector, and to test for a trade-off in competitive ability between these two host types. Mice were infected via tick bite with either one or two strains, and these mice were subse…

Täpläravun (Pacifastacus leniusculus) vaikutus särjen (Rutilus rutilus) loisiin Päijänteellä

2013

Täplärapu (Pacifastacus leniusculus) on Suomen vesistöissä verrattain uusi vieraslaji, joka leviää sekä suunnitelluin istutuksin että suunnittelematta uusille alueille. Täplärapu on alun perin tuotu Suomeen korvaamaan rapuruton turmelemia jokirapukantoja, mutta sitä on istutettu myös alueille, joissa ei alkuperäistä rapukantaa ole aiemmin ollut. Kotoperäiseen jokirapuun verrattuna täplärapu on paitsi vastustuskykyisempi rapurutolle, myös nopeampi kasvamaan ja lisääntymään. Täplärapu kasvaa jokirapua suuremmaksi ja on luonteeltaan aggressiivisempi. Vieraslajina täplärapu voi muuttaa uuden elinympäristön rakennetta ja toimintaa. Täplärapu käyttää ravintonaan muun muassa selkärangattomia pohja…